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Teagan vs. NDSU
WIU Visual Productions Center
5
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 21-5
2
Western Illinois WIU 8-8
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
21-5
5
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
8-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 8 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 1

W: Jacquelyn Sertic (6-3) L: Hart, Kacyee (4-3) S: Krista Menke (3)

14
Winner North Dakota State NDSU 22-5
1
Western Illinois WIU 8-9
Winner
North Dakota State NDSU
22-5
14
Final
1
Western Illinois WIU
8-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
North Dakota State NDSU 4 1 6 0 3 14 16 1
Western Illinois WIU 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 2

W: Jacquelyn Sertic (7-3) L: Kirkpatrick, Kayla (2-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Drops a Pair to Open Conference Play

Leatherneck softball fell twice on Saturday (March 21) to defending league champions, North Dakota State.

MACOMB, Ill. - Despite a strong pitching performance from Kacyee Hart in the first game, Western was unable to split the first two games of Summit League play. Western Illinois fell 5-2 to begin the day, before dropping a 14-1 decision in five innings. The Leathernecks are now 8-9 overall, and 0-2 in Summit League play. 

GAME ONE: Western Illinois 2, North Dakota State 5 -

Western fell behind early, conceding an unearned run in the first before Kacyee Hart retired 13 consecutive batters to give the Leatherneck offense time to come back. 

Western nearly got on the board in the third after Rachel Beatty led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sammy Marshall then singled but both Marshall and Beatty would be called out later in the inning. 

In the fourth, Western threatened again and ultimately forced North Dakota State to remove starting pitcher Krista Menke from the game. Teagan Walsh singled to lead things off for Western and moved to second after Lia Romeo was hit by a pitch. Tierney Bottino singled to right to load the bases, but Western left them loaded against the new Jacquelin Sertic. 

NDSU scored twice in the top of the fifth inning and one more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead into the seventh. Consecutive doubles brought the deficit to 5-0 but Western nearly made the comeback. 

With two outs, Marshall drew a walk, putting runners at first and second for Walsh, who doubled to right, clearing the bases and wound up at third after an error by the rightfielder. Kelsey Marlow drew a walk, but both Walsh and Marlow were left on the bases as the tying run came to the plate, falling 5-2.

In the game, Western only struck out three times, against a pitching staff averaging double-digit strikeouts. Menke, who leads the NCAA in strikeouts, recorded only two in the contest. 

Walsh collected two hits for Western, as the Leathernecks drew five walks in the contest. Hart surrendered four earned runs on eight hits while striking out six batters. 

GAME TWO: Western Illinois 1, North Dakota State 14 -

Western once again fell behind early, but starting pitcher Kayla Kirkpatrick was unable to keep the deficit at a minimum, as the Bison scored four runs in the opening frame. A home run in the second pushed the deficit to 5-0, before the game broke open in the third. 

After a double play ball ended the Leatherneck threat in the bottom of the second, NDSU scored six runs in the third, chasing Kirkpatrick from the ballgame. 

Trailing 11-0, Western manufactured a run in the bottom of the third, bringing home Karissa Kouchis who reached on a single with one out in the inning. 

NDSU scored three more times in the fifth, making it 14-1. The Leathernecks did threaten in the bottom half, trying to extend the contest as Rachel Beatty and Karissa Kouchis both singled to begin the inning. A ground out and a fielder's choice, followed by an attempt to advance on a wild pitch ended the ballgame. 

Kirkpatrick fell to 2-5 on the year. The senior allowed seven earned over two innings of work. Stulga worked the final three innings, giving up six earned on seven hits. Western pitching combined for three walks and four strikeouts in the loss. 

Kouchis was the lone Leatherneck with multiple hits in the game, as the junior finished 2-for-2 from the plate. 

The Leathernecks look to bounce back as the three-game series wraps up on Sunday (March 22). First pitch for the finale is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. 
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